Andy Mackay
@leicesterllama.bsky.social
Leicestershire & Rutland birder, artist and freelance bird surveyor. UK birding, particularly Eyebrook Reservoir, moths and general wildlife stuff. No politics, no religion, no football!
http://www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk
http://www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk
Pinned
Andy Mackay
@leicesterllama.bsky.social
· Aug 18
I've added some recent work to the Illustrations page of my website. Please have a look if you have a few moments. Thanks.
www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations
#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding
www.ajm-wildlife-art.co.uk/illustrations
#art #wildlifeart #birds #ukbirding
Reposted by Andy Mackay
Jack snipe have been showing well from Bishop’s hide at Cley NWT this autumn. Great to eventually catch up with one today and spent an enjoyable morning sketching it along with 6 water pipits that dropped in. Quality!
November 20, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Jack snipe have been showing well from Bishop’s hide at Cley NWT this autumn. Great to eventually catch up with one today and spent an enjoyable morning sketching it along with 6 water pipits that dropped in. Quality!
Went back to Swithland Res this morning and there was the Lesser Scaup, back where it was originally found by @tcartz.bsky.social on Tuesday. Excellent views from the causeway. The 6th one I've seen in the county, but the first away from Rutland Water. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
November 13, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Went back to Swithland Res this morning and there was the Lesser Scaup, back where it was originally found by @tcartz.bsky.social on Tuesday. Excellent views from the causeway. The 6th one I've seen in the county, but the first away from Rutland Water. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
The Lesser Scaup at Swithland Res had disappeared by the time I went to look for it this afternoon, but I did see something even rarer - this Gadwall x Mallard hybrid. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The Lesser Scaup at Swithland Res had disappeared by the time I went to look for it this afternoon, but I did see something even rarer - this Gadwall x Mallard hybrid. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
Reposted by Andy Mackay
RED-BACKED SHRIKE - An adult from the spring, watercolour on Arches paper for the cover of a publication. #birds #ukbirding #birdart
November 11, 2025 at 6:35 PM
RED-BACKED SHRIKE - An adult from the spring, watercolour on Arches paper for the cover of a publication. #birds #ukbirding #birdart
Reposted by Andy Mackay
Sketch book Grackle, Calshot, Hants - a bird with plenty of character #Boat-tailedGrackle
November 7, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Sketch book Grackle, Calshot, Hants - a bird with plenty of character #Boat-tailedGrackle
Similar moth numbers to last night - 41/14, but again nothing terribly exciting. 5 December Moths NFY and a very late (and unusually pale for here) Willow Beauty. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
November 7, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Similar moth numbers to last night - 41/14, but again nothing terribly exciting. 5 December Moths NFY and a very late (and unusually pale for here) Willow Beauty. #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
Traps out for the 1st time in 7 weeks (weather, work, birding, laziness). Worth doing for 49/16 inc 4 belated NFY: 2 Merveille du Jour, 2 Feathered Thorn, 1 Brick & 10 November sp. 1 Rusty-dot Pearl the only migrant. Surprised to see Vine's Rustic still going! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
November 6, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Traps out for the 1st time in 7 weeks (weather, work, birding, laziness). Worth doing for 49/16 inc 4 belated NFY: 2 Merveille du Jour, 2 Feathered Thorn, 1 Brick & 10 November sp. 1 Rusty-dot Pearl the only migrant. Surprised to see Vine's Rustic still going! #VC55Moths #TeamMoth
October 26, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The Hoopoe that showed so well on Periglis beach, St Agnes, from my recent visit to the Isles of Scilly. Mostly watercolour pencil, with a bit of gouache, on Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. Original is about A4 size #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #ScillyBirds #UKBirding
October 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The Hoopoe that showed so well on Periglis beach, St Agnes, from my recent visit to the Isles of Scilly. Mostly watercolour pencil, with a bit of gouache, on Fabriano Artistico watercolour paper. Original is about A4 size #BirdArt #WildlifeArt #ScillyBirds #UKBirding
Most people at Eyebrook today were looking at the American Golden Plover, but I was more interested in this 1st-winter Caspian Gull and a Rock Pipit as they were site year ticks for me. 😄 Also 2 female Scaup and 5 Red-crested Pochards. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
October 22, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Most people at Eyebrook today were looking at the American Golden Plover, but I was more interested in this 1st-winter Caspian Gull and a Rock Pipit as they were site year ticks for me. 😄 Also 2 female Scaup and 5 Red-crested Pochards. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
Reposted by Andy Mackay
GLOSSY IBIS – Watercolour on Arches HP, lucky to catch up with a few of these birds consisting of over 600 birds recorded in the UK and a good number in Ireland, a very rare breeder in UK, most birds being juveniles with a small proportion of adults also amongst the frenzy. #ukbirding #birds
October 19, 2025 at 5:36 PM
GLOSSY IBIS – Watercolour on Arches HP, lucky to catch up with a few of these birds consisting of over 600 birds recorded in the UK and a good number in Ireland, a very rare breeder in UK, most birds being juveniles with a small proportion of adults also amongst the frenzy. #ukbirding #birds
First visit to Eyebrook Res for nearly a month, and almost the first bird I saw was this juvenile American Golden Plover. Initially found amongst c600 Golden Plovers, it eventually gave great views from the Rutland side. A long-held ambition realised to pick one of these out! #vc55birds #ukbirding
October 18, 2025 at 2:31 PM
First visit to Eyebrook Res for nearly a month, and almost the first bird I saw was this juvenile American Golden Plover. Initially found amongst c600 Golden Plovers, it eventually gave great views from the Rutland side. A long-held ambition realised to pick one of these out! #vc55birds #ukbirding
Reposted by Andy Mackay
After being underwhelmed by the female Siberian Thrush I saw in Fife this was like seeing a new bird🙂 The male at Loch of Asta, Shetland this month. Can do prints - please dm me if required.
October 18, 2025 at 6:22 AM
After being underwhelmed by the female Siberian Thrush I saw in Fife this was like seeing a new bird🙂 The male at Loch of Asta, Shetland this month. Can do prints - please dm me if required.
A few highlights from my week on Scilly now I've had a chance to edit photos. Details in the alt text. Unfortunately the Mourning Dove wasn't pinned down until after we'd left. Maybe it'll stay till next year? 😂 #scillybirds #ukbirding
October 11, 2025 at 3:58 PM
A few highlights from my week on Scilly now I've had a chance to edit photos. Details in the alt text. Unfortunately the Mourning Dove wasn't pinned down until after we'd left. Maybe it'll stay till next year? 😂 #scillybirds #ukbirding
Reposted by Andy Mackay
If you love #glassart or #birds or are already following my #art (hi and I love you) the SWLA @ Mall galleries opens next week, and my Black-tailed Godwit #sculpture will be there - online preview (sculpture page - scroll down for the Godwit!) here buyart.mallgalleries.org.uk/swla-2025/?_...
October 10, 2025 at 11:15 AM
If you love #glassart or #birds or are already following my #art (hi and I love you) the SWLA @ Mall galleries opens next week, and my Black-tailed Godwit #sculpture will be there - online preview (sculpture page - scroll down for the Godwit!) here buyart.mallgalleries.org.uk/swla-2025/?_...
Goodbye Scilly, see you next year (for longer!) hopefully. Didn't see a huge number of birds, but a very enjoyable visit. Good return crossing: Sabine's Gull, 2 Great, 1 Sooty & 1 Manx Shearwater, and 6+ Storm Petrels, most of which (apart from the Sab's) were in Scilly waters. #scillybirds
October 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Goodbye Scilly, see you next year (for longer!) hopefully. Didn't see a huge number of birds, but a very enjoyable visit. Good return crossing: Sabine's Gull, 2 Great, 1 Sooty & 1 Manx Shearwater, and 6+ Storm Petrels, most of which (apart from the Sab's) were in Scilly waters. #scillybirds
Met Office forecast for Scilly today vs the reality. It's often like that here, far warmer and sunnier than they say it's going to be. But I still always forget and wear too many clothes! 🥵
October 6, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Met Office forecast for Scilly today vs the reality. It's often like that here, far warmer and sunnier than they say it's going to be. But I still always forget and wear too many clothes! 🥵
Reposted by Andy Mackay
Birds in stained glass, freestanding #art or wall sculptures, rarely window panels. My birds are celebrations, explanations, rants and sometimes tears; but like the birds that inspire them, they are all beautiful dancers-with-light…
October 5, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Birds in stained glass, freestanding #art or wall sculptures, rarely window panels. My birds are celebrations, explanations, rants and sometimes tears; but like the birds that inspire them, they are all beautiful dancers-with-light…
Reposted by Andy Mackay
‘Turkestan Shrike, adult male’
acrylic, 13 x 18 cms.
Turkestan Shrike, also known as Red-tailed Shrike, is a very rare visitor from Central Asia to the UK. Along with the closely related Daurian Shrike it was once considered one of the sub-species of Isabelline Shrike.
#turkestanshrike
#birdart
acrylic, 13 x 18 cms.
Turkestan Shrike, also known as Red-tailed Shrike, is a very rare visitor from Central Asia to the UK. Along with the closely related Daurian Shrike it was once considered one of the sub-species of Isabelline Shrike.
#turkestanshrike
#birdart
October 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
‘Turkestan Shrike, adult male’
acrylic, 13 x 18 cms.
Turkestan Shrike, also known as Red-tailed Shrike, is a very rare visitor from Central Asia to the UK. Along with the closely related Daurian Shrike it was once considered one of the sub-species of Isabelline Shrike.
#turkestanshrike
#birdart
acrylic, 13 x 18 cms.
Turkestan Shrike, also known as Red-tailed Shrike, is a very rare visitor from Central Asia to the UK. Along with the closely related Daurian Shrike it was once considered one of the sub-species of Isabelline Shrike.
#turkestanshrike
#birdart
Absolutely nothing in an hour's seawatch off Peninnis this morning 😴. A Short-eared Owl sheltering behind a wall along King Edward's Road and better views of the Wilson's Phalarope at Porth Hellick, but not much else today in the very strong wind. #scillybirds
October 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Absolutely nothing in an hour's seawatch off Peninnis this morning 😴. A Short-eared Owl sheltering behind a wall along King Edward's Road and better views of the Wilson's Phalarope at Porth Hellick, but not much else today in the very strong wind. #scillybirds
20k steps around St Mary's today for not a lot other than 4 Cory's Shearwaters in an hour off Peninnis first thing. Seawatching should be better tomorrow in even stronger winds, but finding anything on land is going to be difficult in this weather. #scillybirds
October 3, 2025 at 3:56 PM
20k steps around St Mary's today for not a lot other than 4 Cory's Shearwaters in an hour off Peninnis first thing. Seawatching should be better tomorrow in even stronger winds, but finding anything on land is going to be difficult in this weather. #scillybirds
Feels slightly unreal being back on Scilly after 22 years. Saw the Wilson's Phalarope and Rosy Starling, but it was Cetti's Warbler and Cattle Egret that were Scilly ticks! #ukbirding
October 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Feels slightly unreal being back on Scilly after 22 years. Saw the Wilson's Phalarope and Rosy Starling, but it was Cetti's Warbler and Cattle Egret that were Scilly ticks! #ukbirding
Reposted by Andy Mackay
Enjoyed excellent but brief views of the Holy Island Red breasted Flycatcher on Sunday afternoon. Its a while since Ive seen one...
#Northumberland #BirdArt
#Northumberland #BirdArt
September 29, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Enjoyed excellent but brief views of the Holy Island Red breasted Flycatcher on Sunday afternoon. Its a while since Ive seen one...
#Northumberland #BirdArt
#Northumberland #BirdArt
Record shot of an Osprey (and a Buzzard below) which flew west over Groby Pool a few minutes ago. Takes the house year list to a nice round 80. #79 was a juvenile Gannet yesterday! No photos of that unfortunately as it was a fair way off when I got onto it. #VC55Birds #UKBirding
September 23, 2025 at 11:03 AM
Record shot of an Osprey (and a Buzzard below) which flew west over Groby Pool a few minutes ago. Takes the house year list to a nice round 80. #79 was a juvenile Gannet yesterday! No photos of that unfortunately as it was a fair way off when I got onto it. #VC55Birds #UKBirding